Stunning Chaos isn’t solely the title of KATSEYE’s sophomore EP, however maybe an ideal strategy to describe the final 12 months within the lives of the lady group.

In June 2024, KATSEYE — fashioned by Okay-pop big Hybe and Geffen Information by way of a music competitors collection, Dream Academy — launched their aptly named first single, “Debut.” Now, a 12 months later, the worldwide lady group has returned with their follow-up EP, Stunning Chaos, touchdown their first Billboard 200 prime 10 (No. 4) and two spots on the Scorching 100 chart. In addition they introduced their first tour Tuesday morning, with stops throughout North America.

It’s been a 12 months of progress for the group — comprising members Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae — who gained early recognition from a Netflix documentary, Popstar Academy, that chronicled their journey from pop hopefuls to world stars. It’s additionally been a 12 months of adjustment. “There’s been instances the place I simply went out and didn’t do my make-up, didn’t do my hair, and I’m identical to, nobody’s going to acknowledge me,” Megan tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom.

“I completely neglect that I’ve pink hair and also you’re going to see [me],” she jokingly provides. “These are simply issues that you simply understand over time and simply work out.”

Beneath, KATSEYE speaks with THR about their new singles “Gnarly” and “Gabriella,” how their track “Imply Women” tells the story you didn’t get to see on TV and why they’re making an attempt to log out.

“Gnarly” has been gaining plenty of traction, which is basically thrilling. Had been you anticipating that? Do you suppose individuals obtained it instantly?

LARA To be sincere, I really feel like once we heard “Gnarly” … we couldn’t predict if individuals would adore it or hate it. You by no means know and you may by no means predict that, however I believe we knew and had a sense that it will be very widespread and there can be plenty of eyes and ears on it as a result of it’s simply so jarring and so completely different. I believe we knew that it will make some kind of actions and make waves in a approach. The love that we’re receiving… You may by no means predict if persons are actually going to love one thing, so I believe as a result of they do, we’re so honored and so grateful for that. It’s been loopy to see how a lot it’s blown up, and the brand new eyes on KATSEYE and the love that persons are giving us.

Why was it necessary for the primary observe to be launched from this EP to be so completely different than the music you made earlier than?

SOPHIA One in all our targets as KATSEYE is to continually evolve and present completely different sides of us, and we by no means wish to stick to at least one factor. I believe the one factor we wish to keep on with is our uniqueness. The particular factor about KATSEYE is our variety, and it’s not nearly our cultures, however it’s additionally about our artistry and our personalities and even our sound. We would like the Eyekons [KATSEYE’s fanbase] to anticipate completely different variations of KATSEYE, and every model is at all times going to be very true to ourselves, the six of us individually, which is why I do know that as a lot as “Gnarly” was very jarring, it is part of us and also you simply haven’t seen that facet of us. Particularly as a result of we’re so new.

Are you able to inform me a bit about Stunning Chaos and the way you’re feeling about it?

LARA I’d say Stunning Chaos is darker than SIS, melodically, visually, [in its] choreography, the whole lot. It’s just a bit bit extra mature, I’d say. Each single track could be very completely different from each other [but] we’re cohesive inside the Stunning Chaos world. There’s type of a journey by way of the EP, the order, the whole lot about it. There’s a journey. The lyrics are very a lot acknowledging the place we’re at proper now as KATSEYE, and the way it feels to be us, our perspective with the followers. I believe we’re all tremendous, tremendous, tremendous excited. It is rather chaotic.

It appeared such as you all had been actually enthusiastic about “Gabriela” popping out. Are you able to inform me in regards to the track?

DANIELA We’re tremendous excited. I particularly am as a result of I get to be extra in contact with my Latin American individuals, however it’s simply one thing that we’ve by no means executed earlier than. It’s a special vibe. It’s a special type of dance too that individuals haven’t seen. It’s positively sexier, sassier than something we’ve ever executed, and I believe individuals will adore it. Sonically and the choreography. I’m hoping individuals will prefer it.

MEGAN Particularly with it being an extended track too. Individuals have been asking for that for some time, so lastly we’re giving them an extended track.

“Imply Women” is perhaps my favourite track on the EP. I do know you’re all fairly on-line, and there have been many conversations about your relationships with each other after Popstar Academy got here out. Are you able to inform me in regards to the track? How does “Imply Women” match into that?

SOPHIA I’d say that this track is what you mentioned, it’s nearly our response to the journey that we’ve had up to now, particularly with being within the public eye, and having a complete documentary come out about us and displaying a narrative that could be a glimpse of what we went by way of. Emphasis on glimpse. As a lot as it’s a complete storytelling expertise, it isn’t the whole lot. That led to lots of people considering that they noticed the whole lot and having all these misconceptions and [there was] a lot chatter on social media and [people were] simply saying all of these items with out really understanding who we’re. As a lot as they do know such a giant a part of us, it’s nonetheless not the whole lot. You actually simply noticed eight hours of a complete three-year-long journey. That’s one night time’s sleep. You may’t say you already know the whole lot about us. [The song] is type of us simply saying, no matter you consider us, no matter you consider anyone, it is rather like, lady, bless you. Simply letting or not it’s and understanding how we’re and nearly acknowledging the whole lot, however type of acknowledging it with grace and kindness. Simply being like, properly, if that’s what you suppose, then that’s what you suppose. However that’s the great thing about that track and all of our different songs within the EP is that it may be interpreted in any approach that you really want.

MANON What I believe is so lovely about “Imply Women” is that it’s a track that uplifts and helps ladies in each model of themselves. Being a woman or a lady may be actually robust at instances. We’re continually navigating expectations, judgments and double requirements. There’s a lot stress to suit into bins that had been by no means made for us within the first place, so making a track like “Imply Women” felt necessary as a result of it reminds ladies that they’re not alone and that there’s power in selecting kindness over competitors. It’s about constructing one another up and never tearing one another down.

Final time we spoke, it was the day the documentary got here out, so issues had been recent. Within the 12 months since, do you’re feeling you’ve been capable of put a few of what you had been battling or had been understanding to mattress? Can you shut that chapter of your life or do you continue to really feel that it matches into your journey as a bunch now?

LARA I really feel we’ve understood how you can deal with issues like that a lot better. This 12 months — as we develop as KATSEYE, we’re doing increasingly more and extra issues collectively — I believe we’ve began to develop into one. We act the identical approach. We deal with issues the identical approach. I really feel like we’ve began to lean on one another much more once we’re in conditions like that. Nobody else understands us the best way the six of us will [understand] one another. I really feel like we’ve actually develop into one another’s assist system, one hundred pc, relating to dealing with issues like that and feelings like that and what individuals say on-line. One thing that I’ve personally realized just lately, there was a lot chatter on-line that I must create extra and never eat a lot of it.

I’ve realized what these individuals say — A, it’s not actual. B, it’s not for my eyes, and it’s not for me to see. It’s not regular to have so many individuals having so many loopy opinions about you. I really feel like all six of us have skilled that in our personal approach. Then as a bunch, we’ve skilled plenty of chatter and plenty of hate, so we’re studying how you can take a step again and never eat it as a lot and allow them to discuss amongst themselves. Then we [can] create the whole lot in the best way that we wish to do it, and other people can suppose no matter they wish to suppose.

That’s a really wholesome strategy. In a approach that many teams don’t get to, you’ve been capable of take a really world strategy. Along with your American promotions, you’ve carried out on Korean music exhibits and within the Philippines. You’ve actually been capable of spotlight your particular person cultures in a particular approach. What has that have been like?

SOPHIA I’d say that we’re actually grateful that we get to learn from the world just about, with the ability to promote all over the place. I believe essentially the most lovely factor about it’s that — based mostly on what we’ve executed up to now and the locations that we’ve been to, as a result of all of us have completely different items of us around the globe — we get to attach otherwise, in a really particular approach. Identical to you mentioned, we promote right here in America. Plenty of us have our lives right here in America, and so we get to attach with them. Once we went to the Philippines, I obtained to attach with my hometown and the entire individuals there. Once we go to Korea. … Every particular person has a connection to wherever we’re going to the touch on this planet, and I believe that creates a particular bond between us and the followers, which makes it much more enjoyable to do our job and to advertise our music. I believe that’s one thing that’s so lovely. That’s actually the entire level of this.

We wished to make a bunch that was so enthusiastic about music, and on the identical time, you get to see your self in us within the group. It’s not nearly that, it’s additionally about how we join with the followers. I believe that’s the most effective half about it, and that’s why we wish to contact completely different areas of the world all through our profession. We wish to promote all over the place, and we’re so grateful to have promoted in so many locations already. I actually simply noticed… Are you aware that pattern on TikTok that’s like, “Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun?” I see individuals [saying] KATSEYE come to Europe. KATSEYE come to… I actually noticed that, it was simply on my ‘For You’ web page. Persons are like, come right here, come right here. Why are you not coming right here?

LARA And we’ll.

SOPHIA We are going to, belief me. We are going to, we’ve to. Manon is from Europe. We’ve to go, and we’ll. I believe that’s one thing that makes us actually excited for lots of issues.

You’ve spent a lot time collectively and have been working so carefully with each other. How has the final 12 months been for you by way of constructing teamwork with each other and discovering your groove because the six of you?

DANIELA I positively suppose that we’ve gotten a lot, a lot, a lot nearer all year long. The years really. We dwell with one another, so we’ve realized rather a lot about one another and how you can talk and simply work with one another. We’re all so, so completely different. However we’re sisters and we love one another. We’ll bicker right here and there, however we determine it out as a result of we all know that we’ve to as a result of we’re one crew. Whether or not it’s work-related or not work-related, we at all times determine issues out and are at all times tremendous sincere and open with one another as a result of we love one another. However I believe our dynamic is tremendous, tremendous robust, and it simply retains getting stronger all through the years. We maintain discovering out issues about one another.

SOPHIA So as to add to that too, one of many largest [pieces of] recommendation that we get from nearly all artists which have been in teams is communication. So simple as it’s, it really is a posh factor. It’s one thing that we’re continually making an attempt to determine. We discovered how you can talk with one another, however we’re additionally continually looking for higher methods to speak. That’s our major aim. It’s the proper resolution to something. Each single time we’re like, uh, you already know what? Let’s simply not acknowledge [it], sweep it underneath the rug. We’re at all times going to encourage one another to speak as a result of we at all times really feel so a lot better after that. I believe that basically is the most effective recommendation, and the most effective factor that you are able to do for a crew, any crew.

LARA I really feel prefer it’s having a built-in group. I really feel like lots of people aren’t fortunate sufficient to have that and lots of people seek for that and lengthy for it. Like a pal group or some kind of group and crew round them that makes them really feel secure, and we simply type of routinely have that. I believe we obtained actually fortunate that we genuinely vibe with one another, and we’re really associates and one another. I’ve additionally seen just lately, each little factor that occurs in my life exterior of KATSEYE, [in my] private life, these ladies are the primary individuals I’ve to inform. I’m at all times blowing up the group chat [sharing] simply each little factor that occurs, each element. They’re the people who need to know and actually my bestest associates. This 12 months we’ve actually, actually developed that.

How do you make time for self-care amidst busy schedules? What does that seem like for you?

MEGAN Throughout our private time, or not less than for me personally, I really like surrounding myself with people who convey me up and produce positivity into my life. I at all times encompass myself with associates and even us, as one another. All of us hang around and don’t have anything to do with work, simply enjoyable. Or if we’ve private time and we’ve simply labored a lot, lengthy hours, I attempt to sleep as a lot as I can. I do a face masks or take an extended bathe and simply take the day for myself. I really feel like these are the most effective days, after which the following day I really feel so rejuvenated and recent and have vitality.

YOONCHAE When we’ve off day, I flip each mild off, [pull the] curtains closed and simply sleep at the hours of darkness.

SOPHIA She hibernates. (Laughs).

YOONCHAE I get up actually late, eat actually good meals and watch Netflix exhibits. That’s good.

Do you guys discover it onerous to show work off once you’re with each other or spending time in non-work hours?

ALL Sure!

LARA It feels not possible generally.

SOPHIA It’s really not possible. I believe with this job that we’ve, it’s actually our way of life. I believe that simply explains it. It’s a job that you could’t simply come residence and simply be capable to flip off. That is really our life and each single a part of that is associated to what we do. Actually in my downtime, what Yoonchae mentioned, we like to be in mattress and watch exhibits, however on the identical time I’m speaking to followers on Weverse. It’s only a way of life.

MEGAN And even once we exit, I can’t simply exit wanting ugly. (Laughs). I wish to be cute… Plenty of the instances we get acknowledged, and I wish to be cute for the photographs. (Laughs). It really takes time.

There’s positively a stage of anonymity you lose once you’re within the public eye. Have you ever discovered that onerous to regulate to?

MANON Adjusting to fame has positively had its challenges. As a Black lady, I do really feel like I’m held to a special commonplace at instances, like there’s this stress to be good or to hold extra than simply my very own story and that may really feel actually heavy. On prime of that, I’m nonetheless studying how a lot of my life I wish to maintain personal and the way a lot I’m comfy sharing with the world, which has been a difficult stability to determine. However even with all of that, the love I obtain makes it so price it. When followers come as much as me in public and say the kindest issues… it actually hits me. I’ve a lot deep love for the individuals who assist me and the women. They don’t even understand how a lot they offer me again.

How would you like the world to see KATSEYE?

LARA Iconic and legendary. However after I say that, I don’t imply to be imprecise. I really feel like we simply need individuals to see us as a bunch that has a really, very robust impression and [who] really made waves inside popular culture, music, style, the whole lot. We wish to be the one. The one.

SOPHIA She actually mentioned the phrase that got here to my head: impression. I believe that that’s what we wish to do. We actually wish to make a mark.